James serson



(No Model.)

J. SBRSON.

GALVANIC BATTERY.

No. 375,007. Patented. Dec. 2o, 1887.

d. AWV-5- I VENTI:

Il4 PETE", Phcwmf- IIC.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JAMES SERSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES O. VVHITTEN, OF SAME PLACE.

oALvANlc BATTERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,007, dated December 20, 1887.

(No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that l, JAMES SERsoN, of Boston, inthe county of Suffoll ,State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Galvanic Batteries, of which the following is a description sufciently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which said invention appertains to make and usethe same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved battery, the cover being represented as in position and clamped or secured; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the same, Fig. 3, a top plan view, the cover being represented as removed; Fig. 4, a vertical transverse section taken on line :c x in Eig. 3, and Eig. 5 an enlarged diagram showing certain details Vof construction.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

My invention relates more especially to that class of galvanic batteries which are provided with feeders or re-enforcing cups; and it consists in a novel construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed, the object being to produce a more effective and otherwise desirable device of this character than is now in ordinary use.

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all conversant with such matters from the following explanation:

In the drawings, A represents the inclosingjar, which is preferably composed of hard rubber, but maybe made of glass or any other suitable material. This jar is provided with an annular projection, m, which is preferably is partially lled with mercury, t, in which the lower edge or portion of the zinc B is immersed when in position for use, the mercury being carried upward by capillary action and serving to yconstantly amalgamate the zinc, or restore it to its normal condition as the amalgam on its surface is destroyed by the corrosive action of the acidulated solution in which it is submerged.

A porous cup, C, composed of biscuit-porcelain or other suitable material, is placed centrally within the jar A, said cup being considerably less in diameter than the zinc B, and arranged concentrically therewith. Disposed within said porous cup there are three portable or detachable re-enforcing cups, E F G, and also a cylindrical carbon, D, provided with transverse slots or openings r in its lower portion or edge, and with an upwardly-projecting arm, f. The carbon Vis considerably less in diameter than the porous cup and is concentrically arranged therewith. Three sockets, y, for receiving the cups E F G, are formed on the bottom of the porous cup C, said sockets being preferably grouped around its center, as shown in Fig. 3.

The re-enforing cups are porous, being composed of biscuit-porcelain or similar material, and are of such size that when placed in position in the sockets of the cup C a chamber or space of suitable dimensions to receive the solution used in said lastnamed cup will be left between them and the carbon D. The cup E is provided with a series of lateral perforations, g, through which the solution in the porous cup may freely pass. A screw-cap, H, is attached to each ofthe arms f d, in which the conducting-wires Z w are respectively secured in the usual manner.

A cover, J, provided with a downwardlyprojecting annular iiange, k, at its periphery, is tted to the jar A, said cover having openings through which the arms f d protrude when the cover is in position on said jar. clamping-bar,K, provided with a downwardlyprojecting arm, h, at either end having an in wardly-projecting hook, j, is employed for securing the cover in position on the jar A. A lever, L, is centrally pivoted to the bar K, said lever being provided with a cam, p, which is roo ILL tted to work in an elongated slot, q, in said bar and press upon the cover J when the lever is depressed. Projecting laterally from the jarA near its top there are two lips or iianges, u, one at either side thereof, with which the hooksj on the arms h of the bar K are respectively adapted to engage, and in attaching the cover J to said jar the lever L is raised and said hooks adj usted to engage said lips, after which the lever is depressed, thereby bringing the cam p into forcible contact with the top of the cover and locking it in position in a manner which will be readily obvious without a more explicit description.

rllhe mechanical parts of my improved battery having been constructed and arranged as shown and described and the channel b filled with mercury, the screw-caps H, clampingbar K, and cover J are removed and the porous cup C filled with the following galvanic element or solution, M. p

(For convenience of reference I will designate the solution used in the porous cup C as the inner solution, and that used in the annular cell or chamber z, between said cup and the jar A, as the outer solution.)

Formula for the inner soZutfi0m-Take two gallons of water, one gallon of sulphuric acid, one and one-half gallon of nitric acid, three pounds and four ounces ofchromic acid, and nine pounds of bichromate of potash. Mix these ingredients .in any suitable vessel, and when thorougly dissolved and incorporated use a sufficient quantity of the element or solution thus formed to fill the porous cup containing the carbon D and cups E F G. When the porous cup has been lled, as described, the annular cell or chamber e, containing the zinc B, between the porous cup and walls of the jar A, is then filled with the following galvanic element or solution, N.

Formula for the outer solutiom-Take one gallon of sulphurie acid and six gallons of Water. Mix these ingredients in any suitable vessel and use a sufficient quantity of the element or solution thus formed to fill the cell or chamber e containing the zinc B. After the cell or chamber z has been filled with the lastnarned solution', as described, the perforated re-enforcing cup E is filled with bichromate of potash, the cup F with nitric acid, and the cup G with sulphuric acid. rlhe cover J is then replaced and secured by the clampingbar K, and lever L and the screw-caps H, carrying the wires l w, attached to the arms df, the battery being now in operative condition. Vhen the battery is to be moved while in use, or if employed where there is more or less motion, as in lighting railway-cars, 85e., the cover J is provided with rubber packing-rings on its under side adapted to fit tightly around the arms d f and also press upon the upper edges of thejars, zinc, and carbon, thereby preventing the solutions in the battery from being spilled or aceidentally'mixed with each other.

.The object of the acids and bichromate of potash which are respectively placed in the cups E F G is to re-enforce or feed the inner solution in the porous cup C,and thereby maintain its strength.

I have found in practice that the use of an inner solution comprising water, nitric acid, sulphuric acid, bichromate of potash, and ehromic vacid in combination with an outer solution comprising water and sulphuric acid in about the proportions and compounded substantially as described effectually prevents polarization and the precipitation or deposit of sulphate of zinc and the sesqui-oxide or oxide of chromium, or chromic alum,7 onthe carA bon or zinc of the battery. I have also found that the use of free mercury, t, in the channel b will keep the zinc B thoroughly amalgamated, and thus prevent its premature destruction by the corrosive action of the acidulated solution in which it is submerged.

The cups E F G,being portable, may be easily replaced when broken or removed to be cleansed or filled without interfering with the action of the battery.

I do not confine myself to the proportions stated in formulating the galvanic elements or solutions M N, as these may be varied considerably without materially changing their nature or the results attained by their use; nor to arranging the cups E F G in any special manner within the porous cup C, as their arrangement is immaterial,excepting as a matter of convenience. Neither do I confine myself to making said re-enforcing cups cylindrical, as they may be made of any suitable form or size; nor to making thejar A,pro jection m,cup C, zinc B, and carbon D of the precise forms or styles shown and described, as these part-s may be varied considerably in that respect without departing from the spirit of my invention; nor to the use of three re-enforcing cups, as one or more may be used, as required; nor to the use of the sockets y for holding the re- Y en forcing cups, as any suitable means may be employed for that purpose; nor to the use of the mechanical parts of the battery with solutions compounded precisely as described, as said parts are adapted for use with any suitable liquid galvanic elements or solutions; nor to the use of the solutions with the mechanical parts described, as said solutions are well adapted for use in batteries differently constructed.

As I have made the galvanic elements or solutions respectively designated as the inner solution77 and the outer solution77 the subject matter of another application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 2i3,942, I do not herein claim the same, broadly.

Having thus explained my invention, what I claim is l. In a galvanic battery of the character described, the jar A, having the interiorly-disposed annular projection m, provided with the channel b for containing free mercury with which to keep the zinc B amalgamated, sub stantially as set forth.

2. In a galvanic battery of the character de IOO IIO

scribed, the combination of the jar A, provided with the channeled projection m, the porous cup C, provided with the sockets y, the zinc B, provided with the arm d, the carbon D, provided With the arm f, the portable or detachable cups E F G, means for connecting the Wires Z w to the zinc and carbon, a cover for the jar A, and means for securing the cover on said jar, substantially as described.

3. In a galvanic battery of the character de scribed, the jar A, provided with the channeled projection m, the zinc B, having its lower portion or edge inserted in the channel of said projection, the porous cup C, centrally disposed in the jar A, one or more portable or ldetachable re-euforcing cups disposed Within said porous cup, and the carbon D, disposed between the reenforcing cup or cups and the walls of said porous cup, in combination with an acidulated solution in the porous cup, an acdulated solution in the chamber between the porous cup and walls of the j ar A, the mercury, t, in the channel b, and a re-enforcing` Inaterial or materials in the re-eniorcing cup or cups, substantially as set forth. 25

4. In a galvanic battery of the character described,the inclosing-jar A, provided with the lips u and projection m, having the channel b, the zinc B, provided with the arm d and having its lower portion or edge inserted in 3o said channel, the porous cupV C, centrally disposed in said jar and provided with sockets y, the re-enforcing cups E F G, disposed in said porous cup and secured by said sockets, the carbon D, provided with the arm f and dis- 35 posed between said re-enforcing cups and the Walls of the porous cup, the clamping-bar K, provided with the cam-lever L, arms h, and hooks j, and the screw-caps H, all constructed, combined, and arranged substantially as shown 4o and described.

JAMES SERSON.

Witnesses:

O. M. SHAW, E. L. SAWYER. 

